Project 1992-026-01:Grande Ronde Model Watershed, Contract 86083:1992-026-01 EXP INDIAN CREEK CONNECTIVITY PH 1 RECONNECT HABITAT

Project 1992-026-01:

https://www.cbfish.org/Project.mvc/Display/1992-026-01



The Grande Ronde Model Watershed Program coordinates watershed planning activities within the Grande Ronde and Imnaha river basins of Oregon. The watershed activities are focused on habitat protection and restoration, and are generally designed to restore and enhance salmon and steelhead resources, encourage and support land and water management, economics, and multiple land uses consistent with sound ecosystem management, and enhance the quality and quantity of river flow.



Contract 86083:

https://www.cbfish.org/Contract.mvc/Summary/86083



Indian Creek originates in the Wallowa Mountains and flows into the Grande Ronde River near Elgin, Oregon. The creeks headwaters begin on National Forest land. Downstream of the forest boundary there is a mix of commercial and private timber lands, and an agricultural valley before the creek reaches its confluence with the Grande Ronde.



The Indian Creek watershed is home to ESA-listed Snake River Chinook salmon, Snake River steelhead, bull trout, State-Sensitive Redband trout and Pacific Lamprey, as well as a suite of other important aquatic and terrestrial species. Indian Creek sub-watershed contains three fish passage barriers approximately 5-6 miles upstream from its confluence with the Grande Ronde River. The barriers do not meet fish passage standards and limit floodplain connectivity. The barriers include an old cobble dam, an old hydroelectric dam and associated floodplain infrastructure, and a undersized culvert and road bed in the creek. This contract will support the removal of these passage barriers and associated floodplain infrastructure (RMs 5.4 to 7.0). This will include the placement of approximately 22 large wood structures for habitat complexity, and floodplain connectivity. This aquatic connectivity focused effort will open up over 10 miles of critical habitat for juvenile salmon, steelhead, bull trout, and other fishes.



Objectives:



- Restore adult and juvenile fish passage at three existing barrier sites;

- Increase channel complexity, with channel morphology closer to historical and natural form;

- Increase quality and quantity of habitat, especially large wood and deep, complex pools;

- Improve sediment sorting and routing;

- Increase floodplain connectivity and frequency of inundation;

- Increase suitable adult holding and spawning habitat; and

- Increase area suitable for juvenile summer and overwinter rearing, including cold water off-channel rearing, highflow refugia, and foraging habitat.



The Indian Creek Connectivity Project is an partnership between GRMW, BPA, Hancock Timber Company, and TU.